Laverne and Shirley
"The Best Nightmare"

By Joanna Hunter

Ext. - Laverne and Shirley's apartment: Night
~ A shot of their window with the curtains closed but light shining through.  

Scene 1 ~ Int. - L&S apartment: Night
~ Laverne, Shirley, Lenny, Jo and Squiggy are all sitting around the TV on the couch or on the floor.  
They're all decked out in Packer stuff, popcorn is everywhere, a leftover pizza box sits on the table. 
They're all watching the TV intensely now, except for Shirley who is grimicing at the mess around her.  

Len/Lav/Squig/Jo
Ooooohhh... NO!!!  BOO!!

~ Now the four are throwing popcorn at the TV and are frowning, aparently the Packers didn't 
make a touchdown.  

Jo
I can't believe he missed that!

Squiggy
Yeah, even Lenny could have caught that one. 

~ Lenny and Jo glare at him.  

Lenny
Now what's that supposed to mean?  If you can't remember I was water boy for the High School
football team.  And what were you?

Squiggy
Remember I broke my leg that year!  That isn't fair.  

Laverne
Aw, come on guys break it up.  

~ She turns to Shirley who's wrinkling her nose in disgust.

Cont. Laverne
Did you see that one Shirl?  Anybody could have caught that one.  

~ She stands up and points around the room.  

Shirley
Look at us guys, we could be out having a romantic dinner with our future husbands and wives 
but we're sitting here in our own filth watching the Packers.  

~ Lenny and Squiggy smell their armpits and Jo stops them.  

Laverne
Well we didn't have any dates tonights Shirl, if you can't remember.  
And we're all die hard Packer fans right guys?

~ The gang cheers and whoops while Shirley still stands crossing her arms and looking 
a bit frustrated.  She moves in front of the TV.

Shirley
Don't you see, we need to get out, see the lights, meet new people for once.  
Instead of acting like guys with low grade money problems.  

Laverne
But we do have low grade money problems.  

~ Now the four are trying to watch the game around Shirley.

Jo
Shirley could you move, we need to see the TV.  

~ She turns toward the TV and turns it off.  The gang stands up and confronts her.

Cont. Jo
Why'd you do that for?

Shirley
Don't you see that we're just wasting our lives on meesly TV?

Laverne
You wanna waste your time on our fists?

~ Each of the four hold up a fist as if to punch her.  Shirley amazingly stands her ground.  

Shirley
This is what I mean.  We're out of High school and yet you're still picking off fist fights.  
That's just juvenille.  Why don't you all just grow up?

Squiggy
Because we're going through a phase Shirley...

Lenny
It's called "being single".  

~ Shirley puts her hands up in a surrender motion.  

Shirley
Fine, if you want to waste your minds on this garbage then go right ahead.  
I'm going to go to bed and be a mature person.  

~ She starts walking toward the bedroom.

Laverne
You know Shirl you're not any eccential rolemodel either.  You're just like any one of us.  

Shirley
Ha that's what you think.  I'm truly the wisest and most mature of all of you.  Good night.  

~ She disappears into the bedroom.  Laverne's about to go in but Jo stops her.  

Jo
Just let her go Laverne.  She'll find her own answer.  

Lenny
Right we'll take care of her.

~ The boys start walking toward the bedroom but Jo grabs them by the collar and pulls them back.  
They sit down on the couch and Laverne turns on the TV.  

Scene 2 ~ Int. - L&S's bedroom: Night
~ Shirley is already in her pajamas looking at the mirror brushing her hair.  

Shirley
They'll know soon enough that I am the most mature of all of them.  
It's just something they'll learn through time.  

~ She stands up and walks over to the bed and picks up Booboo kitty.  

Cont. Shirley
You know that I'm mature right Booboo kitty?

~ She looks up from Booboo kitty not smiling.  
She realized what she's doing and lays the stuffed animal on Laverne's bed.  
Shirley gets into bed and turns out the light.  

Shirley
They'll learn soon enough...

Scene 3 ~ Int. L&S apartment: Night
~ We're in the living room with the guys all sitting on the couch not looking too happy.  
Squiggy's sitting on the arm of the couch none of them are smiling while watching the tv.  

Squiggy
Touchdown.

Jo
Yea.

~ They say these things without much enthusiasm.  Even Squiggy seems a little downhearted. 
Laverne looks around at them.

Laverne
Aw come on you guys.  Lighten up!  

Jo
I just can't believe that Shirley called us immature.  
I mean she's just the same as all of us.  

~ She looks at Lenny and Squiggy.

Cont. Jo
Well maybe not exactly like us but that doesn't give her any reason to call us that.  

Laverne
Aw, you know Shirley, she over reacts.  She's just fooling around.  

Lenny
It wasn't very nice though.  

~ Laverne gets up.

Laverne
I'll go and talk to her.  Watch them for me Jo.  

~ Laverne leaves the room and goes into the bedroom.  
Squiggy hops down from the arm of the couch and goes onto the couch.  
Jo is in the middle while the boys are slowly inching their way towards her. 
Now they made a Jo sandwich and they put they're arms over her shoulders.  
They're about to kiss her on the cheek but she bends over for some popcorn.  
The boys end up almost kissing each other.  
They make faces and grimace at what they almost did.  

Scene 4 ~ Int. bedroom: Night
~ It's dark in the bedroom but we can see Laverne slowly creep toward Shirley.  
Shirley's eyes snap open.  She closes them pretending to be a sleep.  
Now Laverne is right next to her bed.

Laverne
(whispering) Shirley...

~ Shirley gets up and hits Laverne with her pillow.  
Shirley is screaming and Laverne manages to turn on the light. 
Shirley stops pounding her with the pillow and smiles.  
Laverne is obviously not happy.  

Shirley
Laverne what are you doing here.  
I thought you would be watching the Packers with your little friends. 

Laverne
Shirl, they're all really mad at what you said about them.  
I think maybe you should apoligize.  

Shirley
Apologize?  Laverne they'll get over it, it's just something they need to live with.  
Even you Laverne.

~ Laverne is very surprised at what Shirley just said.  

Laverne
Shirl, what's gotten into you?

Shirley
Laverne I just realized that I live with people that don't understand things they way
I do and that maybe that means that I'm more mature than them.  

Laverne
Well you tell me when you come to your senses Shirley, because if you want any 
friends you better do so soon.  

~ She storms out of the room.  

Shirley 
Just another example of immaturity.  

~ Shirley gets back into bed and turns out the light.  She closes her eyes.  

Cont. Shirley
One day they'll thank me.  

~ Dream sequence

Scene 4 ~ Int. L&S apartment: Morning
~ Laverne is already dressed and at the table ready to eat a hearty breakfast 
by the look of it. Shirley comes out yawning and still in her pajamas.  
Laverne isn't wearing an L on her shirt.    

Shirley
Good morning, Laverne.

Laverne
Good morning, Shirley.

~ Shirley walks over to the table, and looks at Laverne and her breakfast.

Shirley
Laverne, you're never ready before I am.  What's the occasion?

Laverne
Nothing special my friend.  Please join me for breakfast.   

~ Shirley sits down.

Shirley
What are we eating?

Laverne
Eggs benedict on toast, with a slice of cantaloupe and a glass of milk.   

~ Shirley listens to all of this carefully and points to the glass of milk.  

Shirley
Aren't you going to add some Pepsi to that?

~ Laverne gives her a look and laughs lightly.

Laverne 
Oh that's so juvenile Shirley.  Now eat your eggs before they get cold.  

~ Shirley eats them like a normal person would but Laverne eats them very daintly. 
Shirley puts down her fork. 

Shirley
Oh I get it.  I know your little sceme.  
You're still mad at me about last night and this is how you're punishing me.  

~ Laverne wipes her mouth.

Laverne
Yes, I must admit I was mad at first, but after a while I thought that maybe I was
being a little immature, so I decided to change.  

~ Shirley doesn't believe her ears.  She goes over to the couch and sits down thinking 
about all of this.  She shrugs it off and turns on the TV.

Shirley
So what are we gonna do tonight?

Laverne
Well I have a date with a young man that I have met and I'm very fond of.  

Shirley
What does he do.  Is he another sailor?

~ Laverne laughs.

Laverne
His name is Gregory Jones and he is a doctor.

~ Shirley's jaw drops open and she walks over to Laverne.  

Shirley
A doctor?  You got a date with a doctor?

Laverne
Yes, and he's very nice.  I think that I have found the man of my dreams Shirley.  

~ Shirley now can not believe a word that she is saying.  Her mouth just hangs open. 
Shirley walks back to the couch.  There's a knock at the door.  

Shirley
Who is it?

O.S. Squiggy 
You're friends and neighbors.

~ Laverne is plainly excited and walks to the door and opens it for them.  
They come in with nice fancy suits on holding their hats in their hands.  
Squiggy doesn't even have his little curl, his sneakers or his leather jacket.  
Lenny himself is also lacking his "Lonewolf" jacket and is wearing loafer like shoes. 
Laverne is smiling but Shirley's jaw is hanging loosely.

Squiggy
Hello ladies.  

Laverne
Hello Leonard, Andrew.  What brings you here on this fine morning?

Lenny
Well Andrew thought that it would be a good idea to drop by all of our dear friends' 
houses and here we are.  

~ They hand her a present.

Laverne
Aw, why thank you Leonard.  

~ She opens it up and inside is a very nice sweater.  Laverne holds it up to her and smiles.

Laverne
Thank you so much boys.  

Squiggy
Well it's the least we could do.  We were thinking last night and just realized that in 
all the time that we knew each other we never did give you any presents.  

Shirley
Boys, are you alright?

Lenny
Yes Shirley, we're more than alright.  We're great.  You changed our lives.  

Shirley
I have?

~ Shirley's not so sure that she did something good by changing their lives.  

Squiggy
Yes, before we were dumb fools, but now we're very classy guys.  

~ Squiggy puts an arm around Shirley's shoulders, and there's no sign of grease, 
which is probably making Shirley more nervous than anything.  

Squiggy
Today I found a bum on the street...

~ Shirley is happy now, she's expecting him to say something nasty or weird.

Shirley
What'd you do?

Squiggy
I looked at that bum, and I gave him a one dollar bill.  He was so happy and now I 
know that I've made someone happy.  Making me even happier.

~ Shirley frowns unbelievingly.  Squiggy walks back toward Lenny.  
Lennny is smiling widely and is standing on the top of the stairs.  

Laverne
Well thank you boys for coming.  

Lenny 
Wait, before I go I have an announcement to make.  (to Squiggy) Andrew could you
get Joanna for me.  

~ Shirley's happy to hear this, she hopes that Jo is normal instead of mature.  

Shirley
Yes get Jo!

~ Squiggy leaves and comes back in a second with Jo.  
She isn't wearing her leather jacket and her hair isn't tied up in it's usual pony-tail.  
She's wearing a skirt with a blouse.  Shirley's smile fades.

Jo
What's going on Leonard?

~ Lenny gets down on one knee.  Jo is starting to blush and Shirley's eyes are widening.  

Lenny
Joanna Hunter Fonzarelli, will you marry me?

~ He holds out a ring and Laverne and Squiggy are trying not to cry. 

Jo
Yes!

~ Lenny get's up and kisses Jo.  
While they're kissing Laverne and Squiggy cry of happiness and hug each other. 
Shirley's the only one not doing anything.  
She goes to the wall and starts pounding her head against it.  
As a stroke of luck for Shirley, Carmine comes in.  
Everybody stops what they're doing and looks at him.

Carmine
Hey, the Big Ragoo is here!

Laverne
Oh Carmine, Leonard and Joanna are getting married!

~ Carmine is smiling widely and pats Lenny and Jo on the back.

Carmine
Hey congratulations!

~ Shirley stops pounding her head on the wall and goes over to Carmine.

Shirley
Oh Carmine, please tell me you're normal!

Carmine
I'm normal.  

~ She looks up at the ceiling and mouths "thank you".  

Carmine
But I came to announce that I got a record deal and I'm going to California!

~ Len, Squig, Jo and Laverne all congratulate him.

Squiggy
I say we all celebrate by going to Chez Pfister, my treat.  

Shirley
What is happening?!  I don't want everybody to change!!

~ She falls onto the floor and starts bawling.  The camera zooms up on her face and 
then zooms out showing Shirley in a baby costume.  

Laverne
Oh don't be so immature Shirley.  

Lenny
Yeah be a little like us.  

~ The gang leaves Shirley crying in her baby suit.  

Shirley
I sorry!  I'm not mature!  I'm not!  I'm not!  

~ Dream sequence

Scene 5 - Int. L&S bedroom: Night
~ Shirley is tossing and turning in her bed.  

Shirley
I'm not!  I'm not!

~ Laverne runs into the bedroom and turns on the light.  

Laverne
Shirl?

~ Shirley snaps awake.  Her eyes wide.  

Shirley
Oh Laverne!

~ He looks and touches her "L".  

Shirley
Oh thank god!  Wait!  

~ Shirley runs out of the room.  

Scene 6 - Int. L&S apartment: Night
~ Shirley runs into the room while Lenny, Squiggy and Jo are cleaning up or trying to at least. 
Shirley is in her pajamas rousing Lenny and Squiggy.  

Shirley
Oh thank god!  

~ Jo grabs Lenny by the back of his jacket and Lenny grabs Squiggy making the two fall down.  

Shirley
Oh thank you thank you!  

Squiggy
What's up with you Shirl?  

Shirley
Oh I had the most horrible dream...

Jo
You know Shirley, I think you maybe right about being a little more mature.  

~ The boys get up.  

Lenny
Yeah, Jo told us that girls like mature guys.  

~ Shirley's eyes get wide and Laverne comes in the room. 

Shirley
NO!  No!  I take it all back.  Just be the way you are!  

Squiggy
Well if you insist.  

~ Squiggy advances on Shirley but Laverne stands between them.  

Laverne
Uh, guys I think you better leave.  

~ The three grumble and then start to leave.  

Jo
Bye, Laverne, Shirley.  

Shirley/Laverne
See ya Jo, Len, Squig.  

~ They leave the apartment.

Laverne
I'm glad you appoligized Shirl.

Shirley
Well, I guess I had too.  You know I had the weirdest dream.

~ They start cleaning up.

Laverne
Yeah?

Shirley
Yeah, Lenny and Squiggy were all mature.  And Lenny and Jo were going to get married, 
and Carmine was going to California.  

Laverne
Was I in it?

Shirley
Yes, you were going to go on a date with a doctor.

~ Laverne's eyes get big and she smiles a sly smile.  

Laverne
Was he cute?

Shirley
I don't know.

Laverne
Did we..?

~ Shirley looks up at Laverne.

Shirley
Sometimes I do wish that you would grow up a little Laverne.

Laverne
I just had to know.